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[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 184 (Monday, September 24, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54300-54301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4712]

[[Page 54300]]

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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and 
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 72 FR 29001, and no substantial comments 
were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with 
the publication of this second notice. Comments regarding (a) whether 
the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance 
of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology should 
be addressed to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, 
Attention: Desk Officer for National Science Foundation, 725-17th 
Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H. 
Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 
Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send e-mail 
to [email protected]. Comments regarding these information collections 
are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days 
of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by 
calling 703-292-7556.
    NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless 
the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control 
number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to 
the collection of information that such persons are not required to 
respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: Medical Clearance Process for Deployment to 
Antarctica.
    OMB Number: 3145-0177.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew an information 
collection for three years.

Abstract

A. Proposed Project

    All individuals who anticipate deploying to Antarctica and to 
certain regions of the Arctic under the auspices of the United States 
Antarctic Program are required to take and pass a rigorous physical 
examination prior to deploying. The physical examination includes a 
medical history, medical examination, a dental examination and for 
those persons planning to winter over in Antarctica a psychological 
examination is also required. The requirement for this determination of 
physical status is found in 42 U.S.C. 1870 (Authority) and 62 FR 31522, 
June 10, 1997 (Source), unless otherwise noted. This part sets forth 
the procedures for medical screening to determine whether candidates 
for participation in the United States Antarctic [[Page 216]] Program 
(USAP) are physically qualified and psychologically adapted for 
assignment or travel to Antarctica. Medical screening examinations are 
necessary to determine the presence of any physical or psychological 
conditions that would threaten the health or safety of the candidate or 
other USAP participants or that could not be effectively treated by the 
limited medical care capabilities in Antarctica.
    (b) Presidential Memorandum No. 6646 (February 5, 1982) (available 
from the National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, Room 
755, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230) sets forth the National 
Science Foundation's overall management responsibilities for the entire 
United States national program in Antarctica.

B. Use of the Information

    1. Forms NSF-1422/1462/1452, National Science Foundation--Polar 
Physical Examination (Antarctica/Arctic/Official Visitors) Medical 
History, will be used by the individual to record the individual's 
family and personal medical histories. It is a five-page form that 
includes the individual's and the individual's emergency point-of-
contact's name, address, and telephone numbers. It contains the 
individual's email address, employment affiliation and dates and 
locations of current and previous polar deployments. It also includes a 
signed certification of the accuracy of the information and 
understandings of refusal to provide the information or providing false 
information. The agency's contractors' reviewing physicians and medical 
staff complete the sections of the form that indicated when the 
documents were received and whether or not the person qualified for 
polar deployment, in which season the person is qualified to deploy and 
where disqualified the reasons.
    2. Forms NSF-1423/1463/1453, Polar Physical Examination--
Antarctica/Arctic/Official Visitors, will be used by the individual's 
physician to document specific medical examination results and the 
overall status of the individual's health. It is a two-page form which 
also provides for the signatures of both the patient and the examining 
physician, as well as contact information about the examining 
physician. Finally, it contains the name, address and telephone number 
of the agency's contractor that collects and retains the information.
    3. Forms NSF-1426/1466/1456, National Science Foundation Polar 
Physical Examination (Antarctica/Arctic/Official Visitors) Medical 
History Interval Screening, will only be used by individuals who are 
under the age of 40 and who successfully took and passed a polar 
examination the previous season or not more than 24 months prior to 
current deployment date. It allows the otherwise healthy individual to 
update his or her medical data without having to take a physical 
examination every year as opposed to those over 40 years of age who 
must be examined annually.
    4. Forms NSF-1465/1425/1455, Polar Dental Examination--Antarctica/
Arctic/Official Visitors, will be used by the examining dentist to 
document the status of the individual's teeth and to document when the 
individual was examined. It will also be used by the contractor's 
reviewing dentist to document whether or not the individual is dentally 
cleared to deploy to the polar regions.
    5. Forms NSF-1428/1468 Medical Waivers--Antarctic/Arctic: Any 
individual who is determined to be not physically qualified for polar 
deployment may request an administrative waiver of the medical 
screening criteria. This information includes signing a Request for 
Waiver that is notarized or otherwise legally acceptable in accordance 
with penalty of perjury statutes, and obtaining an Employer Statement 
of Support. Individuals on a case-by-case basis may also be required to 
submit additional medical documentation and a letter from the 
individual's physician(s)

[[Page 54301]]

regarding the individual's medical suitability for Antarctic 
deployment.
    6. Other information requested: In addition to the numbered forms 
and other information mentioned above, the USAP medical screening 
package includes the following:

--the Medical Risks for NSF-Sponsored Personnel Traveling to 
Antarctica.
--the NSF Privacy Notice.
--the Medical Screening for Blood-borne Pathogens/Consent for HIV 
Testing.
--the NSF Authorization for Treatment of Field-Team Member/Participant 
Under the Age of 18 Years. This should only be sent to the individuals 
who are under 18 years of age.
--the Dear Doctor and Dear Dentist letters, which provide specific 
laboratory and x-ray requirements, as well as other instructions.

    7. There are two other, non-medical forms included in the mailing:

--the Personal Information Form--NSF Form Number 1458 includes a 
Privacy Act Notice. This form is used to collect information on current 
address and contact numbers, date and place of birth, nationality, 
citizenship, emergency point of contact information, travel dates, 
clothing sizes so that we may properly outfit those individuals who 
deploy, work-site information and prior deployment history.
--the Participant Notification--Important Notice for Participants--NSF 
Form 1457 in the United States Antarctic Program. This form provides 
information on the laws of the nations through which program 
participants must transit in route to Antarctica, regarding the 
transport, possession and use of illegal substances and the possibility 
of criminal prosecution if caught, tried and convicted.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information varies according to the overall health of the individual, 
the amount of time it takes to access the forms online and print them, 
the amount of research required to complete the forms, the time it 
takes to make an appointment, take the examination and schedule and 
complete any follow-up medical, dental or psychological requirements 
and the completeness of the forms submitted. The estimated time is up 
to six weeks from the time the individual receives the forms until he 
or she is notified by the contractor of their final clearance status. 
An additional period of up to eight weeks may be required for the 
individual who was disqualified to be notified of the disqualification, 
to request and receive the waiver packet, to obtain employer support 
and complete the waiver request, to do any follow-up testing, to return 
the waiver request to the contractor plus any follow-up information, 
for the contractor to get the completed packet to the National Science 
Foundation, and for the NSF to make and promulgate a decision.
    Respondents: All individuals deploying to the Antarctic under the 
auspices of the United States Antarctic Program and certain Arctic 
areas must complete these forms. There are approximately 3,600 
submissions per year, with a small percentage (c.3%) under the age of 
40 who provide annual submissions but with less information.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Form: Responses ranges from 2 to 
approximately 238 responses.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 40,536 hours.
    Frequency of Responses: Individuals must complete the forms 
annually to be current within 12 months of their anticipated deployment 
dates. Depending on individual medical status some persons may require 
additional laboratory results to be current within two to six-weeks of 
anticipated deployment.

    Dated: September 19, 2007.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 07-4712 Filed 9-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M
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